Zambezi River Map
The Zambezi River is a 2,570 km (1,600 mi) river through 5 countries. This map shows its course from the Lunda Plateau to the Indian Ocean on shaded relief, with its river network, lakes, borders and major cities.
How to read this map
The Zambezi River is about 2,570 km (1,600 mi) long and drains a basin of about 1,570,000 km² (606,000 sq mi). Its average discharge is about 7,000 m³/s (247,000 cu ft/s). It rises at the Lunda Plateau and flows into the Indian Ocean. It flows through or along Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Tributaries include Kafue River, Luangwa River, Shire River, Cuando River, Manyame River, Luena River, Kabompo River and Luanginga River.
The highlighted blue line is the course of the Zambezi River as mapped by Natural Earth. Towns and cities on the map include Harare, Lubumbashi, Lusaka, Bulawayo, Lilongwe, Blantyre, Beira and Likasi. Labeled countries: Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Greens show lower elevations; tan and brown show higher land, with pale tones toward the highest terrain. Shadows emphasize the slopes, and vertical relief is exaggerated so landforms are easier to read. Dashed lines show country borders.
The relief uses Terrain Tiles (SRTM, GMTED2010 and ETOPO1 elevation data). Rivers, lakes, borders and the course of the Zambezi River come from Natural Earth, and the figures on this page from Wikidata. Natural Earth draws features at a small scale, so the line is a guide to where the Zambezi River is, not a surveyed boundary.
Blank physical map
The blank version keeps the mapped features and removes the place labels. Download it for a geography worksheet or practice identifying the features.
Zambezi River facts
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 2,570 km (1,600 mi) |
| Drainage basin | 1,570,000 km² (606,000 sq mi) |
| Average discharge | 7,000 m³/s (247,000 cu ft/s) |
| Source | the Lunda Plateau |
| Mouth | the Indian Ocean |
| Countries | Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe |
| Tributaries | Kafue River, Luangwa River, Shire River, Cuando River, Manyame River, Luena River, Kabompo River, Luanginga River, Lungwebungu River and Gairezi River |
Data sources and license
- Natural Earth (public-domain geography): Public domain.
- Terrain Tiles / Mapzen (SRTM, GMTED2010, ETOPO1): Open elevation data; source attribution retained.
- Wikidata (lengths, areas, countries and other facts): CC0 1.0.
Map design and rendered images: Atlas of Maps, CC BY 4.0. Source databases retain their own licenses; the map license does not replace them.
Maps of the countries: Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Compare with the world rivers map.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Zambezi River?
The Zambezi River is about 2,570 km (1,600 mi) long, with a drainage basin of about 1,570,000 km² (606,000 sq mi).
Where does the Zambezi River start and end?
The Zambezi River rises at the Lunda Plateau and flows into the Indian Ocean.
Which countries does the Zambezi River flow through?
The Zambezi River flows through or along Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Can I download a blank map of the Zambezi River?
Yes. The blank version keeps the relief, rivers and borders and the highlighted river but removes the place names. Both versions are free to download as PNG and as an A4 PDF.
Use this map
You can download, print and share this map for free, in class, in school projects, in presentations and on websites, as long as you credit the source: Zambezi River Map · Atlas of Maps (atlasofmaps.com), license CC BY 4.0.
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